Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spanish champions Barcelona have sacked their coach Ernesto Valverde and appointed Quique Setien as his replacement, the club announced on Monday. The decision to remove Valverde was confirmed following a board meeting that lasted more than four hours at Camp Nou on Monday afternoon. Barca are …
Read More »Barcelona, Real stalemate in politically-charged Clasico
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona and Real Madrid could not be separated on Wednesday in a Clasico that was briefly interrupted by Catalan independence protests, when dozens of yellow beach balls were thrown onto the pitch at Camp Nou. After being postponed in October, there were renewed fears of …
Read More »Barcelona and Real Madrid get set for politically charged Clasico
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Barcelona and Real Madrid will travel to the Clasico on Wednesday from the same hotel as part of a large-scale security operation aimed at reducing the impact of Catalan independence protests. The fixture had to be postponed in October due to violent demonstrations and there are …
Read More »Five things we learned from European football
Paris, France | AFP | It was a disastrous weekend for Lyon and Netherlands striker Memphis Depay who is now likely to miss Euro 2020 but an excellent one for Philippe Coutinho who is proving his worth for Bayern Munich. Here, AFP Sport takes a look at five things we learned …
Read More »Lionel Messi is the 2019 Ballon d’Or winner!
Paris, France | AFP | Lionel Messi won a record sixth men’s Ballon d’Or award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, beating Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane to take the honours. Now aged 32, it is Messi’s first Ballon d’Or since 2015 and his sixth overall as he moves one …
Read More »Chelsea, Ajax draw European thriller as Liverpool win and Barca stumble
Paris, France | AFP | Jorginho scored two penalties as Chelsea came roaring back from 4-1 down to draw 4-4 with nine-man Ajax in a Champions League classic on Tuesday, while holders Liverpool claimed a narrow victory and a stuttering Barcelona were held. There was also a rousing comeback win for …
Read More »Barca’s fragility casts doubts on Champions League credentials
Madrid, Spain | AFP | They may be one of Europe’s most devastating teams at their best but another collapse in La Liga last weekend has shown Barcelona can be a soft touch. Their 3-1 defeat by Levante on Saturday reopened old wounds from Anfield and Rome and suggests they have …
Read More »Postponed El Clasico to be played on Dec 18: federation
Madrid, Spain | AFP | The rearranged El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be played on December 18 despite opposition from La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed on Tuesday. Spain’s most prestigious fixture, which was due to take place at Camp Nou on Saturday, was postponed last week …
Read More »Messi says tax problems made him want to leave Barcelona
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi has admitted he wanted to leave Barcelona when he was under investigation from the Spanish tax authorities but insists now he intends to finish his career at the club. In an interview with Catalan radio station RAC1, Messi also said he had expected Neymar …
Read More »Salah saves Liverpool after incredible Salzburg comeback, Suarez downs Inter
Paris, France | AFP | Champions League holders Liverpool came out on top of a 4-3 thriller with Salzburg on Wednesday after throwing away a three-goal lead at Anfield before Mohamed Salah’s winner, while Luis Suarez fired Barcelona to a comeback victory over Inter Milan. Salah won the Group E match …
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